Double walled barrel of dissimilar metals



Aug. 10, 1937. .1, D. LEAR DOUBLE WALLED BARREL DISSIMILAR METALS Filed Nov. 1, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3maenfor (Ittomeg Aug. 10, 1937. J. D. LEAR DOUBLE WALLED BARREL OF DISSIMILAR METALS Filed Nov, 1, 1954 ZShee'ts-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 10, 1937 PATENT OFFICE DOUBLE WALLED BARREL OF DISSIMILAR METALS Joseph D. Lear, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Fedders Manufacturing.

Company, Inc., Buffalo,

Application November 1,1934, Serial No. 751,019

4 Claims.

This invention relates to double walled barrels or like containers, and it has particular reference to' the provision of a strong thermally insulated container, the inner and outer walls of which are 5 formed of chemically and metallurgically incompatible metals. v

In the manufacture of metallic barrels in which a double wall structure is indicated, as, for example, in a beer barrel, there are presented a number of conflicting requirements, which heretofore have been met by such compromise with desired properties as seemed commercially expedient. One requirement, for example, is that the barrel or other container must be quite strong and durable, to withstand the hard use to which it is subjected. Another speciflcationhas been that the barrel should possess a high degree of resistance to corrosion or chemical attack by the liquid contained in the barrel. Still another has been, despite the requirement of strength, that the container be as light as possible, and, at the same time, be inexpensive, to the ends that initial investment and transportation costs be kept at a minimum. Of the various metals employed in industry, iron or steel is well known as being fairly cheap, and extremely strong and durable. However, it is heavy, and hence, while the initial investment in a shipping container might be low, the costs of transportation are increased in proportion to the weight. Furthermore, iron or steel is generally subject to attack by many liquids,-it rusts. And if the non-corrosive alloys of iron are proposed, difliculty is at once experienced in the way of manufacturing operations, costs, and the like. Aluminum, and certain of the aluminum alloys in particular, on theother hand, are relatively very light, and are possessed of satisfactory corrosion resistance properties. Moreover, the various alloys of aluminum have a fair degree of strength-, -enough to withstand the load of liquid,

placed in a metal container, although scarcely enough to withstand the abuse to which containers are-subjected.

With this statement of desired specifications for the container, and with the properties of typical industrial metals so well known, it can be under-;

stood that the proposal to make a double walled barrel with a steel outer shell, and an aluminum inner shell, approaches the ideal of a very strong, light, cheap, and chemically resistant barrel.

' This proposal, however, while specifying a desirable and useful article, cannot be utilized readily in practice by mere substitution of one metal for 56 the other, for the reason that metals such as steel and aluminum .are chemically and metallurgically incompatible. By this is meant that while steel may be readily bonded to steel, as by welding, and while aluminum can be integrated with aluminum if care is used, it is inexpedient, if not practically impossible, to weld steel and aluminum. The chemical and metallurgical properties of the metals are such that they cannot be welded or fused to each other in a satisfactory manner, and, if attempts are made to effect a mutually integral bond by interposition of some third metal or alloy, other complications are introduced which offset the practical advantages sought.

According to the present invention, however, a barrel or like container is provided, having an outer shell of a metal such as steel, and an inner shell of a metal such as aluminum, which shells are effectively and durably connected in spaced relation to provide a strong, light, inexpensive, and corrosion-resistant container. A typical embodiment of the principles of the invention is hereinafter described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the barrel, portions of which are broken away to show the sectional disposal of the shells; a

' Fig. 2 is a top view of the barrel with portio broken away to the central joint;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the filling bung with a portion of the steel sleeve broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the central joint of a barrel showing a second embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the drawings, the invention is incorporated in a barrel of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 701,640, filed December 9, 1933. The barrel is formed with an inner shell or liquid container i I) and an outer enclosing shell II which is spaced from the inner shell to provide an insulating air pocket therebetween. In the present invention, the inner shell is formed of aluminum, or of an aluminum alloy or similar metal, while the outer shell is formed of steel or similar metal, and it is connected to support and protect the inner shell as hereinafter described.

Th inner shell I0 is formed of similar cupshaped sections 13 formed with radial flanges 14, which are secured together by seam welding.

- Each section is formed with a semi-circular notch I! in its marginal edge, and these notches are matched in assembly to provide a circular bung opening 20. One section is additionally formed with an outlet bung opening N in its end wall.

The outer shell II is likewise formed oi. similar sections as indicated by the numeral l9, andthey may include circular chime portions 2| formed on the periphery of the end walls. The rim of each section I! is provided with a radial flange 22 which at its juncture with the rim is formed with an internal shoulder 23. These sections are also formed with marginal notches 24 which may be brought into registry to provide a bung opening 30 at the belly of the barrel, and a second bung opening 25 is also provided in the end of one section, or in the head of the barrel.

Prior to assembling the shells, the lounge 23 and 21 are secured to the inner shell it). These bungs are fabricated of aluminum and steel portions which may be welded to the aluminum and steel shells respectively. The outlet bung 2B, for example, is formed of a shouldered aluminum body 28 containing an outlet opening 29 and having a tubular steel sleeve 3| shrunk over its shouldered portion. The bung 2'! (Fig. 3) similarly is provided with an aluminum body 33 containing an opening 34 and formed exteriorly with a circular rib 35. A steel sleeve 36 is shrunk over the exterior of the body and its extremity it additionally spun over the rib 35, as indicated by the numeral 31, to provide a rigid connection.

The bodies of the bungs 26 and 21 are also.

formed with additional shouldered portions 38 and 39 at their extremities, which are inserted in the bung openings 20 and I8 respectively of the inner shell and welded thereto. as indicated by the numerals ll and 42 (Fig. '1).

After completing the inner shell assembly, the

sections of the outer shell are applied thereto with circular'reinforcing saddle members 43 interposed therebetween. The flanges 22 of the outer sections are brought together under pressure during this assembly with their circular shoulders 23 resiliently gripping the periphery of the previously united flanges H of the inner shell. The flanges 22 are then welded together and the inner shell is thus connected to the outer shell by a circular joint. 7

Subsequent to the above described application of the outer shell II, the bungs 26 and 21, which have been positioned to protrude through the thereto. It will be observed that the steel portions of the bungs are thus disp sed in proximity to the outer shell, thus permitting a steel to steel weld, as indicated by the numerals M and 45 (Fig. 1).

The modified form of central joint shown in Fig. 4 comprises an inner shell 41 which is formed of two similar sections 48 having radial flanges 49 which are connected by welding to complete the shell. The outer shell BI is similar to the shell ll of the first embodiment with the exception that the sections 52 thereof are formed with inwardly extending flanges 53 terminating in peripheral offset portions 54. In assembly the united flanges 49 of the inner shell 41 are resiliently received between the offset portions 54 of the bridging flanges I3. and the outer sections 52 are flnally welded at their exterior meeting edges, as indicated by the numeral 55.

In common with the structural form shown in- Flg. l, the bridge connection 01' Fig. 4 resiliently which is positive in action, but which may be "inexpensively made, and which serves to hold metals which are metallurgically incompatible.

It will also be observed that provision is made for connecting the shells at their bung portions, to the end that gas tight Joints are obtained throughout the barrel structure.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain specific forms of joints and connections, and has been discussed in connection with steel and aluminum as specific examples of metals having metallurgically incompatible properties, it will be understood that such explanation has been made for the purpose of disclosing the best forms of the invention now known to me, and it is intended to encompass such other forms and adaptations of the principles as may properly fall within the scope oi the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a double walled barrel, an aluminum inner shell having a protruding circular flange, and a. steel outer shell formed of two cup-shaped sections,- each having a radial flange about its open edge, said flanges of the outer shell being welded together and resiliently engaging the periphery of the circular flange of the inner shell. 2. In a double walled barrel, an aluminum inner shell having a protruding circular flange, and a steel outer shell formed of two cup-shaped sections, each having a radial flange at its open edge formed with a shouldered internal portion, said flanges of the outer shell being welded together with the shouldered portions thereof cooperating to engage resiliently the periphery of the circular flange of the inner shell.

- 3. In a double walled barrel, an aluminum inner shell, an enclosing steel outer shell, and. means connecting said shells including bungs,

each bung being formed oi rigidly connected aluminum and steel portions, said portions being integrated with the aluminum and steel shells respectively.

4. In a double walled barrel, an aluminum inner .shell, an enclosing steel outer shell, and means connecting said shells including bungs, each bung being formed of an aluminum body and a steel sleeve rigidly secured to the exterior thereof, said body and sleeve being integrated with the aluminum and steel shells respectively.

JOSEPH D. LEAR. 

